recruitment THE NEW AGE OF
Stephanie Axtens, Barcats Venue Partner, shares insights on how to recruit and retain staff in the current climate. inding hospitality staff over the last couple of years has been almost impossible. With restrictions changing like the weather, vaccination and mask mandates, public restrictions, and venues closing left right and centre, restoring faith in the industry for hospitality workers has been, and still is, incredibly difficult. We reminisce the days where you could post a sign in the front window and have 20 CVs piled at the end of the bar within a week. Nowadays, we’re turning towards social media and spending money on paid advertising for little-to-no reward. The constant battle of trying to pay more than the bar next door, or forking out large amounts on sign up bonuses, is wearing
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28 THE SHOUT NZ – MAY 2022
thin. Gone are the days where a staff meal, an early knock-off, and a Saturday night off here or there would be enough to keep employees. We’re now finding more success by leaning on our industry partnerships, and going above and beyond to support our staff as people, not just workers. Proven practises from employers that attract staff to new workplaces seem to be ones that support staff in their everyday life and encourage them to embrace more aspects of the job, including: • Paid on-the-job training tacked on to the normal shift. • Performance incentives – upselling in venue = bonuses. • Referral incentives – Invite a friend and receive $100 if they stay for six months.
• Uniform allowance – Often staff pay out of their own pocket. • Staff coffee run pre-shift and staff meal on their breaks. • Travel allowance post-shift. • Staff social events outside of the workplace. Finding staff and then providing them with training, however, can be difficult and expensive. Job seekers are weighing their options just as much as you are, and let's be serious – the ball is in their court and will be for the foreseeable future. TAKE A MOMENT TO ASK YOURSELF, ARE YOU A GOOD EMPLOYER? This question might make you feel defensive, however, this is the time to have an honest look at who you are at what your venue stands for. • Do you have staff that have worked for you for a long time? • Do you have regulars that come in just to see the friendly face of your bartender or waitress?